When A Stranger Robo-Calls

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The Democrats, ignoring my analysis of last week's mostly-clean election, are revved up for a new round of campaign reforms.

Speaking on the matter with characteristic bluntness was New York Sen. Charles E. Schumer, who spearheaded the party's national takeover campaign as chairman of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. Schumer accused Republicans of "despicable" tactics in the 2006 election cycle, alleging that their operatives called Democrats and lied to them about the location of their polling places.

"I think somebody who does that, and who authorizes that — I don't care who they are — should go to jail for 10 years," Schumer said.

Schumer said he and Illinois Rep. Rahm Emanuel, who headed the party's successful House takeover effort as chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, were making a list of the "abusive practices" used by Republicans, which both Reid and Schumer contended were unique to their partisan counterparts.

"I think you'd have to look long and hard for any Democrat doing this kind of stuff," Reid said

"Yeah, no, we don't do this," Schumer said. "It's really different."

The interesting question—if Democrats package a bunch of campaign finance reforms that make their lives easier—a ban on robocalling, a ban on asking for photo IDs—will Bush veto it? Will Bush veto the probably compromise that gives Washington, DC a vote in Congress? It's difficult to tell how this stuff plays in a country that just saw the cleanest election in a long while.